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Savvy Vanuatu is a boutique consulting firm based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Savvy Vanuatu consultants work with a diverse client base on project management and evaluation, governance, marketing and communications. In this blog, Rob Macalister talks about Savvy Vanuatu’s work with private sector clients supported by Business Link Pacific.
Business Link Pacific is a valued partner in what we do, as it provides an opportunity for small and medium-size businesses to get the professional support that they might not otherwise be able to afford. As many of these are local ni-Van businesses, it is also in line with our business ethos of wanting to support local business to grow and increase their market share.
Equally important, the relationship with Business Link Pacific opens new client relationships for Savvy Vanuatu to help us grow and diversify. Last week saw us engage with several Business Link Pacific clients.
First, we followed up with a tourism client, Secret Garden, who we prepared a Marketing Plan for and who now wants to move onto implementation in readiness for the 2019 tourism year. Business Link Pacific is again assisting with this second phase of support. This locally-owned business was launched just before the devastation of Cyclone Pam in 2015 and then received a second unwelcome shock when the international airport in Port Vila closed in 2016. Tourism levels have still not returned to what they were before the 2015 cyclone, which makes effective marketing even more critical. The product is good, but assistance is required to target their key market segments, and like many of our clients, to brave the new world of digital media.
Our support in the implementation stage will include digital media setup, content planning and coaching, as well as assisting to develop new brochures and product information. The strategy is to focus on two products first – the low hanging fruit- and once revenues pick up, we can move onto other products which will require greater work.
Second, we follow up with another local ni-Van business this time in the construction industry. This successful business is keen to spread its wings and compete in the high-value housing market. Our support to date has included the development of a Marketing Plan through a participative workshop process and identifying key messages to communicate to target market segments. We also developed a branding kit for the business; walking into their office, it is great to see the new logo prominent on office signage and new staff uniforms. The next step in their plan is the development of a website, though it is taking time to gather photos of completed construction projects scattered across Vanuatu’s eighty three islands.
Our final client for the week is another tourism business, thirty minutes outside of Port Vila, with whom we are developing a proposal for Business Link Pacific support. It’s a familiar story of a small family business with a good product and a clear differentiation in the market, but who requires better marketing and capacity building. The smiles on their faces when we discuss opportunities for support from Business Link Pacific shows how much this program is appreciated, not just by us as a consultancy firm, but for clients who, often for the first time, are reaching out for professional help or who may be struggling with cash flow.
And that’s one of the things we enjoy about working with Business Link Pacific clients – they are happy!
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